The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-11
savs nu,ucent c61d,v

poser" says Mllucent c0ldly.
~ really could not form an opinion.
You forget | have not had the pleasure
Of an introduction to Miss Roche"
There is slight return of his sneering
tone here--the tone that had driven her
to passionate anger during that inter-
view at the last dance she had attended.
She has seen fit to forget that scene, and
so has he; but just now she is strongly re-
minded of It. Mrs. Brand, scenting mis-
chief in the air. comes to the rescue.
"Tut,n says she, "what an absurd
question to arise Let Miss Roche's name
alone. must say, Millicent, you show
but questionable taste when you drag
your little friends name into such an
affair. ! could tell you something more
to the purpose, but mum, mum, mum is
the word.n
''Oh, auntie, you have heard some
thingl' cries Millicent, pouncing down
upon her. "You have had news, and,
naughty woman that you are you have
hidden it from me. Come, out with i'll
Your blood will be upon your own head
II you delay for another moment"
"But assure you, my dearest girl'--
"Your dearest girl is disgusted with
your duplicity. Come, speak, ! say.
One, two-three will be your death sig
nal. Grant,, do you take no interest in
the proceedings2 Are you not longing to
hear of the capture of the capturer of my
sapphires?"
She is kneeling beside Mrs. Brand
having thrown her arms coaXingly
around her, so cannot see Grants face,
but she can hear his laugh.
eyes; let us know what kind of fell
low he is" he says.
"Nonsense! OF course it has not come
to that yet, but there is clew-a strong
clew! And oddly enough, the detective
tells me they believe our burglar is the
very one who had hand in abstracting
your mothers diamonds is speak
ing now to Boyle; "thpt struck me as
being very remarkable
Clocks as II it was some one connected
with the family. You will bear me out
that have all along directed attention
to the servants" says Grant. "It is a
thousand pities this clever detective of
yours was not called in at the Valworth
affair. l blame myself very much for
recommending Simpson, who really did
nothing so far as can hear"
"They are attaching good deal Of i'm
portance to the handkerchief DIR. Thesby
took into his possession. They have
discovered something about that"
"1ndeed. 1t was common handker-
chief, think you told me-"
"Quite coarse"
"Well, you could hardly expect burg
lar to have q cambria one"
Grant seems amused.
"My burglar was not q common man,
whatever your mothers may have been,"
interposes Millicent. His voice cannot
describe because it was distinctly feigned;
but something in his whole air forbade
the thought that he was of the lower
IL II Lot. Cd L.
ask you to try to understand and follow
me-"
The miscreant" calculates Mrs. Brand,
Indignantly.
"In spite of all really confess to feel
ing Of sentimental regard for him." says
Millicent, gayly. He might have mur-
dered me, but he refrained; and he was so
far removed from any suspicion of mean
ness that he actually forced a gift upon
me ere he left. Consider that auntie,
and be more lenient in your abuse"
81 dare say you will persuade yourself
by degrees that he fell in love with
you," says Mrs. Brand, who is little
offended at any jesting on so solemn a
subject.
"And why not, them Am I not of
presence sufficiently noble to enthrall
this modern Turpins' Miss Grey de-
mands this saucily of her aunt. "Look
out for your laurels, Grant; there is a
rival in the field"
81 know it, if you allude to Massar-
eene," replies he in a whisper, too low
| for Mrs. Brand to hear
Miss Grey colors vividly.
"You mistake, ~ she says, coldly. ~
was alluding to the burglar"
"Ah! of him l could never feel jeal-
ous," returns he, easily "Of that you
may be positively certain"
He is still regarding her with CLEAN
of sarcastic amusement in his eyes, that
puzzles her and battles her to read, when
the door is thrown open and Mr.. Massar-
eene is announced.